Health Marts to immunize 30,000+ McKesson employees

 
Big plans to scale employer immunization pilot 

In brief:

• Health Marts have an opportunity to give flu shots to 30,000+ McKesson employees and dependents nationwide, both at on-site clinics and in their stores.
• Pharmacies will receive a reimbursement for each shot. 

Flu shots for McKesson employees

Health Mart^® pharmacies have an opportunity to increase revenue and build relationships with new patients through a national employer flu shot contract.

“This year Health Mart pharmacies are going to be the exclusive provider for over 30,000 McKesson employees and their eligible dependents, at either on-site or in-pharmacy locations,” said Mike Cihlar, Health Mart South Regional Director, speaking to pharmacy owners at the ideaShare conference in July.

Flu shots will be delivered through more than 120 on-site clinics at McKesson offices and distribution centers, and at participating Health Mart pharmacies through a voucher program for about 8,000 remote workers and others who can’t attend one of the clinics.

When a McKesson employee walks in with a voucher, that employee or their eligible dependents will receive the shot at no cost and the pharmacy will be reimbursed.

Health Mart and pharmacy participation

Vouchers will be available to employees beginning in September and valid for in-pharmacy redemption between September 15 through December 31. Employees will locate participating pharmacies via healthmart.com.

Health Mart will provide tools and resources for the events, such as signage and education materials, and it is suggesting that pharmacies bring pharmacy services information and other items to encourage potential new customers to visit their stores. Support to answer questions about vouchers will be available to pharmacies through email and a phone hotline, as well as a how-to guide for on-site immunizations.

Making it scalable

“We’re just dipping our toes in this; we’ve already had other employer groups start talking to us about having Health Mart pharmacies go in and do their flu shot clinics,” said Cihlar. “We have more to come. We are really excited about the opportunity.”

“Everything we are doing here is going to be scalable at the local level,” said Marc Crouch, Health Mart West Regional Director. In the future, it is likely that Health Mart pharmacies will have opportunities to offer flu shot vouchers and clinics to many other employers.

For pharmacies, the opportunity extends beyond offering just one immunization, as this program provides exposure and the ability to reach new customers. Cihlar encouraged Health Mart owners to think about building relationships and offering other services when they deliver flu shots.

With more than 4,800 locations now, Health Mart pharmacies can offer services nationwide that previously were available to large employers only through chains or other outside third parties.